Filling machine



March 16, 1937.

H. R. BALDWIN FILLING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1935 2 a 5 4 5 f h a a 6 4 3 4 5 4 r l I w l In" lllllllll |l [HI Ah l E 8% w z a a E H 2 4 w m z w/ z Ill! DM/ 6 a 0 2 M g 2 a 0 E 3 Z l Patented Mar. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILLING MACHINE Harold R. Baldwin, C'arpentersville, Ill., assignor to Elgin Manufacturing Company, a corpora- V 7 tion of Illinois AL Application April 12,

" 6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in filling machines and like devices.

My invention relates more particularly to improvement in the class of filling machines that are commonly used in connection with a reservoir containing the supply of liquid from which bottles, jars, or other containers are filled in measured quantity by operating the apparatus.

. An. object of my invention is to provide an improved filling apparatus of the class described particularly suitable for and adapted to pro,-

vide supplies of measured quantities of paint, turpentine, benzine, cleaning fluids, varnishes or I other similar fluids. It will of course be understood that this apparatus is also suitable for handling semi-liquids or viscous materials, jellies and other similar products.

A further objectof my invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the class described thatis comparatively simple in construction and operation, one that may be easily disassembled for cleaning or repair, and 'one that due to its simplicity of construction will not easily become broken or out of order;

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved plug valve in connection with apparatus of. the class described.

A further object of my invention is, to provide a plug valve of the character described so constructed that an efiective seal is formed at the end of a filling operation, and there is no leakage or. spillage of liquids, or semi-liquid products.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved valve construction of comparatively few parts which co-operate with the reservoir and the measuring cylinder of a filling machine to provide an effective valve operation.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference. is had to the accompanying sheet of drawings upon which Fig. '1 is a plan sectional view of a reservoir of a filling machine and my improved plug valve and measuring cylinder; 1 4

Fig. 2 is a. vertical sectional view taken'on the lines Z- -Zof Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar vertical sectional view through the plug :valve and measuring cylinder taken on the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the lower portion of Fig. 2.

The invention will be described with particular reference to that class of filling apparatus used in connection with a reservoir containing a supply of liquid from which jars, bottles or other containers are filled in measured quantities by operating the apparatus which comprises, generally speaking, a liquid holder or trap com- .60 municating withthe reservoir to be filled there- 1935, Serial No. 15,957

from with a measured quantity of its contents, and discharge the same through a valved outlet into a receptacle to be filled.

Accordingly, I have shown a reservoir II], which may be a part of the general filling machine heretofore mentioned. These reservoirs are ordinarily equipped with a plurality of measuring cylinders and valves supported in elevated position over the part of a filling machine on which receptacles to be filled are imposed, to register with the valve devices'for the purpose of filling the same. V

In connection with the reservoir it previously mentioned, I provide a bracket 12 secured to the side thereof by bolts or other suitable holding means. A passageway I4 is provided through the vertical wall of reservoir Hl' coinciding with a similar passageway It in bracket l2 that communicates with the interior of a vertical tubular valve housing I8 within which the plug valve 20, which forms the'subject matter of this invention, is mounted for reciprocal movement. Such reciprocal movement is obtained by means of a roller 22 secured by suitable fastening means 24' to the upper end 26 of the plug valve and adapted to ride upon a suitable cam track of a filling machine (not shown). The fastening means may extend through a suitable slotted opening 28 in the valve housing 58 and be driven by suitable mechanism, as described, from the filling machine for timed reciprocal movement for a purpose which will hereinafter be more clearly set forth.

The plug valve 20 is constructed of the top 26 previously mentioned, a tubular shell 30 and a lower valve member 32. The member 32 may be provided with a pair of openings 34 and 36, the upper port 34 adapted to coincide with passageways l4 and I6 previously mentioned, leading to the interior of reservoir 10, and the lower port 36 adapted to coincide with an opening 38 in housing l8 and an opening 40 in the lower end of measuring cylinder l3. 7

The housing I8 is further provided at its lower end with a constrictednozzle member 42 screwthreadedly mounted thereon and provided with the convex walls 44.

The lower end of plug valve 20 is provided with the tapered walls 46 adapted to coincide with the walls 44 of nozzle 42, and is further provided with a cup leather seal member 48 secured in the lower end of the plug valve by the screw member 50.

The measuring cylinder I3 which is formed in the bracket I2, is provided with a piston 52 adapted to be reciprocated in timed relation to the movement of the plug valve, by means of a rod 54 from the driving mechanism of the filling machine.

I The .operation'of the plug valve and associated parts will now be described. The valve 20 is adapted to assume two positions, the position shown in Fig. 2 and the position shown in Fig. 3. In the position shown in Fig. 2, liquid from the reservoir [0 may pass through the connected openings l4, I6, 34 into the interior 2| of plug valve 20 and outwardly through the connected openings 36, 38 and 40 into measuring cylinder I3. When the valve is in this position, the piston 52 is raised to a desired height to secure the desired measured quantity of liquid in the cylinder.

When the valve is in the position shown in Fig. 3, liquid in the cylinder I3 is allowed to fiow outwardly through connected openings 38, 40 through the valve housing I8 and nozzle 42 into the containers to be filled. This discharge operation is naturally expedited by the downward movement of piston 52 driven from the filling machine, as previously explained. After the cylinder l3 has been emptied, the plug valve 20 is moved downwardly to the previous position to permit another filling operation of the measuring cylinder and also to efiectively seal the outlet nozzle 42 by bringing the cup leather seal 48 into frictional engagement with the convex walls 44 of the nozzle.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that an extremely simple valve member has been provided. By the simple reciprocation of the valve as constructed, in conjunction with the operation of the piston 52, the measuring cylinder is filled to a desired height, the liquid is discharged, the outlet is effectively sealed, and the discharging cylinder is again loaded. It will further be obvious that a highly efiicient mechanism has been provided and one which absolutely prevents leakage or spillage of fluid at any time when the valve is not in an open position.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that modifications and changes may be made in the details thereof and I do not wish to be limited in any manner. Rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a filling apparatus of the character described, the combination with a reservoir of a measuring cylinder associated therewith, said reservoir having a port in its lower end, said cylinder having a port in its lower end, a valve member having a pair of spaced ports communicating with both said reservoir port and said measuring cylinder port and a chamber in said valve member whereby liquid from the reservoir may flow through said valve member into said measuring cylinder, said valve ports being in such spaced relation to each other and to the cylinder port as to close the reservoir port during a discharging operation from said measuring cylinder.

2. In a filling apparatus of the character described, the combination with a reservoir of a measuring cylinder associated therewith, said reservoir and cylinder positioned adjacent each other, said reservoir having a port in its lower end, said cylinder having a port in its lower end, a valve member having an internal chamber, a pair of ports communicating therewith whereby liquid from the reservoir may flow through said valve member into said measuring cylinder, said Valve ports being in such spaced relation to each other and to the cylinder port as to close the reservoir port during a discharging operation from said measuring cylinder, said valve adapted for reciprocation to align first one set of ports and then the other.

3. In a filling apparatus of the character described, the combination with a reservoir of a vertically positioned measuring cylinder, outlet ports in vertical walls of both of said members, a valve housing having ports, said valve housing, cylinder and reservoir mounted in juxtaposition, coinciding with said outlet ports, a vertical plug valve member in said housing, said valve member adapted for reciprocation, said valve member having an internal chamber and further having a pair of ports communicating therewith and. adapted to be moved to coincide with said measuring cylinder port or said reservoir port, and capable of closing or opening said reservoir port during a discharging or charging operation, said valve housing and said measuring cylinder formed integral and secured to the side of said reservoir.

4. In a filling apparatus of the character described, the combination with a reservoir of a measuring cylinder associated therewith, said reservoir having a port in its lower end, said cylinder having a port in its lower end, said ports in vertical walls of said reservoir and cylinder the reservoir port being higher than the cylinder port, a valve member having an internal chamber, a pair of ports communicating therewith whereby liquid from the reservoir may flow through said reservoir port, valve port and said valve chamber into said measuring cylinder, said valve ports being in such spaced relation to each other and to the cylinder port as to close the reservoir port during a discharging operation from said measuring cylinder.

5. In a filling apparatus of the character described, the combination of a reservoir, 2. measuring cylinder associated. therewith and positioned alongside a vertical wall of said reservoir, both said reservoir and said cylinder having ports adjacent their lower ends, a valve housing vertically positioned alongside both said reservoir and cylinder, a reciprocal valve member positioned therein, said valve member having an internal chamber, a pair of ports communicating therewith whereby liquid from the reservoir may fiow through said reservoir port, valve port and said chamber into said measuring cylinder, said valve ports being in such spaced relation to each other and to the cylinder port as to close the reservoir port during a discharge operation from said measuring cylinder.

6. In a filling apparatus of the character described, the combination of a reservoir, a measuring cylinder associated therewith and positioned alongside a vertical wall of said reservoir, both said reservoir and said cylinder having ports adjacent their lower end, a valve housing vertically positioned alongside both said reservoir and cylinder, a bracket secured to the side of said reservoir having said measuring cylinder and said valve housing formed integral therewith, a reciprocal valve member positioned in said valve housing, said valve member having an internal chamber formed therein, a pair of ports communicating therewith whereby liquid from the reservoir is adapted to flow through said reservoir port, valve port and said valve chamber into said measuring cylinder, said valve ports being in such spaced relation to each other and to the cylinder port as to close the reservoir port during a discharge operation from said measuring cylinder.

HAROLD R. BALDWIN. 

